Principal Engineer/Scientist: Complex in Vitro Models for Drug Screening Lead

Job Description:

CFD Research is seeking a highly skilled and motivated research leader to join our Biotechnology and Life Sciences team. In this role, you will play a critical role in leading multiple projects that will utilize complex in vitro models for both medical countermeasure development and mechanistic investigations. The successful candidate will lead a cross functional team in the design, development, and optimization of advanced in vitro systems—including organ-on-a-chip (OOC) platforms and organoids—across a range of tissue types as well as in the incorporation of sensing and integration with computational models. The candidate will also need to collaborate with cross-functional teams, champion customer requirements and drive projects forward by ensuring impactful research and development while providing technical leadership and guidance.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee technical project execution of one or more development projects.
• Guide scientific and engineering personnel in project execution and in overcoming research hurdles.
• Ensure generation of robust, reliable data, including oversight of report generation
• Act as direct representative of CFD in direct customer briefing and technical progress updates, including technical accomplishments, schedule, and budget.
• Collaborate with a cross-functional team of engineers and scientists in CIVMS, electrochemical sensing, PBPK modeling, and others.

Basic Qualifications:

• PhD in biomedical engineering, biology, or related field with 7+ years of experience in the development of complex in vitro models, or equivalent (BS+15).
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, cutting edge research and development for prototypes (complex in vitro models including organ on chip, transwell, multi-organ systems)
• Proven track record translating bench-top in vitro prototypes into standardized, reproducible assays suitable for drug screening
• Excellent written and verbal scientific communication skills
• Ability to collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams
• U.S. Citizenship required with the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with GLP/GMP/GIVIMP
• Experience in proposal writing
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements (FDA, ISTAND, etc.)

Location: This role is based in the Huntsville, ALarea, and is 100% onsite.